Three days later.


    Around 4 PM, Titania, Heto, Keleanos, Chelsea and Kelsea, and Layla came out of the portals leading to various parts of the continent.


    Alongside them were the pupils they took and taught.


    "How are you feeling?"


    Titania was the first to come out. The moment Karteira and Kamala walked through the portal, they sighed in perfect sync.


    "Well..."


    Karteira looked at her with a perplexed expression.


    "I can feel something different from usual after working on the light element, but I can''t seem to pinpoint what I''m missing."


    Next to her, Kamala closed her eyes in pain while hugging her chest.


    "Why am I still unable to use the Elemental Mastery? I can bring the power out easily, but I lose myself soon after..."


    Seeing that the teaching she was giving was actually working, she felt like giving them a push.


    "Karteira, you need to let go of your ways. You have been focused on staying true to your fairy traits. There will be no improvement if you cannot think outside the box."


    Surprised, Karteira looked up at her mother.


    "..."


    She pondered until an idea came up in her head.


    "Maybe I should go to Orion''s room and read some of his books."


    "If I''m unable to get around my weaknesses alone, I''ll find a way, just like him."


    Titania gave a quick nod, letting her do whatever she could to improve.


    Then, she turned to Kamala.


    "You have the potential to become a mighty individual, but the difficulty of attaining that title comes from the double mastery you are using at the same time."


    "What you need to do is work on maintaining that strong will and slowly mold yourself into what you wish to be."


    Kamala closed her eyes and nodded while relaxing her shoulders.


    "I will heed those words and work further on strengthening my mind. I won''t be able to help if I can''t stay focused for more than a few minutes using the Elemental Masteries."


    The smile on Titania''s face was kind. She knew that these two were truly working hard and that everything she said was absorbed, like a sponge.


    At the same time, another group walked inside Horizon.


    "Damn..."


    May walked out of the portal, holding her right shoulder.


    "I think I''ve dislocated my shoulder."


    Then, Heto walked behind her, holding Eric like a sack of potatoes under his arm, unconscious.


    "I can help with that."


    Carefully, Heto kneeled and dropped Eric against the wall before standing straight.


    He bent slightly toward May and grabbed her right arm. Placing his hand on her shoulder blade, he pulled abruptly.


    "KHH!"


    She groaned as a loud cracking sound echoed in the building. The sound alone was enough to make someone sick.


    "Hah... Thank you. You really have perfect control over your strength."


    Rolling her shoulder to make sure her arm was moving perfectly, she turned to Heto with a frown.


    "I understand your frustration, but my strength came from intense lessons taught by my mother over many years. You are certainly improving fast and have the potential to grow even stronger, but don''t rush it."


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    "Else, you will get hurt like you did today against me."


    May clenched her fists.


    "I... know."


    Releasing the tension in her mind, she dropped her shoulders.


    "Now I definitely understand why Orion was feeling. Having a time limit makes you push yourself past your limits out of desperation."


    Heto nodded.


    "Just understanding that is a good step toward improvement. Keep thinking about this, and the answer will reveal itself before long."


    He picked up Eric and walked away with him. As he left, he waved to her while saying one last thing.


    "At least, that''s what my mother always said, and she never spoke meaningless words."


    After a minute, Layla walked out of a portal with a siren floating next to her.


    "H-How was I today? Did I do good? You haven''t said anything since ending today''s training..."


    Senia asked Layla, who was looking incredibly deep in thought.


    "..."


    "L-Layla?"


    "!"


    The newly made Remnant trembled at the sudden call and turned her head.


    "Oh... Sorry. I was just..."


    She smiled warmly as a way to ease the shy siren.


    "I simply want to see Elliott."


    Senia looked down with a saddened frown.


    "Orion..."


    The loneliness of not being able to see her companion was heavily weighing on her conscience. Hearing Layla, she was reminded that he wasn''t here today either.


    "Ah! I''m sorry! That was inconsiderate of me!"


    "No. It''s fine. I''m not the only one feeling like this."


    Layla looked at Senia and felt a sudden urge to pat her head.


    "It''ll be fine. You''ve been working very hard, and I''ve witnessed it. I''m sure he is fine and thinks of you just as much as you think about him."


    "You''re a very strong-willed woman, even if a bit shy. If you struggle with loneliness, you can always talk to me."


    Senia nodded shyly while receiving Layla''s gentle caress. Three weeks were enough to bring everyone quite a bit closer.


    "Alright. Let''s go home for today. I know you''re not showing it, but you are tired."


    "Yes."


    Layla and Senia walked out of the portal hub together, smiling.


    The next people to come out of the portal were Chelsea and Kelsea, alongside the twins.


    "I''m drained..."


    Dramia walked out of the portal and leaned against the wall.


    "I''m pooped, too."


    Her younger twin sister, Drania slid against the wall and sat on the ground while groaning.


    "Magic is a critical part of battle. After using most of it, it is perfectly normal that you feel like this."


    "After continuously expending your magic for three weeks straight, it is perfectly normal to be exhausted."


    Chelsea and Kelsea walked out of the portal with ripped clothes and a few scratches on their arms and legs.


    "We get it... but it''s still incredibly frustrating that even though we''ve gone all out against you two, who aren''t even fighters, we only managed to scratch you."


    Looking at the other twins being fine, even though they looked more battered than them, Dramia sighed.


    "It''s not fair! How can you dodge everything so effortlessly? I don''t get it!"


    Flailing her arms and legs, Drania began to pout.


    "We are still the daughters of a Valkyrie. / We are still the daughters of a Valkyrie."


    In unison, the Remnants spoke while shrugging.


    "Twins being so different annoys me to no end."


    Dramia pushed herself off the wall and walked to her twin sister before lifting her off the ground.


    "You have something unique, too."


    "Use it to perfect your combination."


    "More doors will open for you two. / More doors will open for you two."


    The four walked toward the exit while discussing more about their link as twins.


    The very last ones to come out of the portals were Keleanos and his two pupils, Olivia and Florian.


    "I can''t believe time went by so fast."


    "I know."


    The two pupils looked at each other with perplexed expressions.


    "You two have been drinking knowledge regularly. Not only are you absurdly smart compared to others, but I have to give credit where it''s due."


    "The sheer focus you show is no lesser than mine."


    "This will give you more chances to find answers about internal conflicts you might have."


    They nodded.


    "Thank you. What you''ve been teaching us has been truly enlightening."


    Florian recalled the teaching he went through and seriously pondered the meaning and intent behind each lesson, even after returning to the guest house.


    "It is a bit complicated for me, but I''ve been learning a lot. I can use what I learn to be a better ruler."


    As the two said their goodbyes for the day to Keleanos, he turned back and returned inside the portal.


    ...


    "So, you''re back."


    Henrietta called out to Titania, who only came out of the portal hub after everyone else. As an answer, Titania nodded.


    "How is she?"


    "She''s still resting, but she''s better. At least she can walk now."


    Titania asked about Amelia, and by her reaction, she was truly getting better. All the emotional instability Henrietta showed before was nowhere to be seen.


    ''She smiles more. I guess losing the people she loved the most but learning they could be saved did make her realize her true feelings.''


    Nodding, she let go of the matter. But suddenly, the ground shook violently, and the air rippled across the entire plane.


    "What the-!"


    *BOOM*


    Their eyes turned immediately toward the source of the problem.


    "Oh. These three again?"


    Henrietta relaxed.


    "It is the same every day, but this is still stressful."


    "I agree."


    As they made their way toward the training field, the intense battle of the three strongest individuals of the Agathion faction came into view.


    *CRASH*


    Lightning bolts crashed upon the ground, chasing after Elliott.


    Out of nowhere, a shadow covered the entire area and began to drag Elliott into its dark innards.


    "Good try."


    Stabbing Vanitas into the ground, he forced his feet out of the darkness and jumped away while pulling the sword alongside him with the invisible whip, Calamitas.


    "What about this?!"


    Deveralna suddenly appeared behind him, wrapping her tail around his waist.


    "!"


    A powerful electric current traversed his entire body at that instant.


    "I got you!"


    Nylon surged out of the darkness with black ink claws, ready to slice at him.


    "Still not good."


    Vanitas appeared in front of Nylon before he could reach Elliott. Without caring for the energy the lamia was releasing to stun him, he grabbed her tail with both hands after releasing the whip and kicked her away.


    "Kh!"


    Deveralna was pushed a few meters back, but returned even faster. Nylon clashed with the sword before being pushed back too as Elliott grabbed Vanitas.


    *Cling*


    Elliott destroyed Nylon''s dark claws and began to rush toward him to finish him.


    "Not yet!"


    Covered in lightning, Deveralna stood in front of Nylon and released a powerful wave of plasma in front of her.


    Then, she slammed her tail down on him.


    Elliott protected himself against the plasma wave by cutting it down and then fending off her tail to the side.


    Nylon, who was previously behind Deveralna, suddenly appeared behind Elliott from his shadow.


    "!"


    But before he could strike him, Elliott ran away.


    A succession of attacks happened as Nylon jumped out of the shadows like a shark to attack him, and Deveralna continued to chase after him with lightning magic.


    But then Elliott caught sight of the two Remnants watching from afar.


    "Let''s stop here."


    He suddenly stopped and leaned backward, avoiding Nylon''s dark claws. Then, he took a quick step to the left and dodged Deveralna who was coming at high speed behind him.


    "Heh?!"


    The two stopped immediately and looked at Elliott.


    "Why? Is it that time already?"


    He nodded while sheathing Vanitas into its scabbard.


    "You''ve been improving a lot. I can easily say that you are the biggest hope for protecting the continent."


    "Well..."


    The two looked at each other, perplexed.


    "Coming from you, I don''t know how to take that. But thanks, anyway."


    Deveralna shrugged and slithered away toward her home before instantly vanishing after using her Remnant power.


    "Thanks for today, Elliott. I still have a long way before getting to your level."


    Elliott smiled and turned around.


    "See you tomorrow, Nylon."


    "Sure."


    Nylon sank into the shadows and disappeared, returning home.


    ...


    This was a usual day for the Remnants and their pupils.


    Progress was definitely made, but the threats were also returning.


    After three weeks, a single rift opened further north of Albriar, closer to Lahro.


    As the news came to them, something the continent had never seen before came to be.


    A thousand corrupt dragons against the Remnant of Strength and the support of Triazils'' entire dragon and lamia factions.


    The combination of the two factions created by Monolavir finally happened, led by none other than Deveralna herself.